Portable power-driven conveyer



Octil, 1946.

A. C. TUTTLE PORTABLE POWER DRIVEN CONVEYER Filed Dec. 30, 1944 4 sheexs-sheet'l \NVENTOR A. E Ma ATTORNEYS Oct. 1, 1946. A. c. TUTTLE PORTABLE POWER DRIVEN CONVEYER 4 sheets-sheet 2 \NVENTOR A-C.TUTTLE' ATTORN lll lllllllll Ei led De ch so, 1944 "I -i -qii i .r ur

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,1946. A. c. TUTTLE PORTABLE POWER DRIVEN CONVEYER Filed De. so, 1944. 4 sheets-sheet 5 pv w M@ M s T W 4 n N U N E I m V C W m A A o v E Q t 8 d no mm Oct-151946. I AQIQTUTTLE 2 ,45

PORTABLE POWER DRIVEN CONVEYER I 7 Filed Dec. 30, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l-NVENTOR ATTORN EYS Patented Oct. 1, 1 946 STATE s PATENT oFFics PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN ooNvEYEn Alfred C. Tuttle,,Montreal, Quebec, Canada so, 1944,,Serlal No. 510,551

Application December 1 a. This invention relates to improvements in portable snow clearing machines of the type described in my co-pending application Serial No. 511,739, filed Nov. 25, 1943, and since issued as Patent No.

The machine described in said application comprises a portable carriage mounting a snow clearing screw conveyer, a prime mover and drive mechanism through which the screw conveyer and, if desired, the ground Wheels of the carriage are driven by the prime mover. The crew. conveyer comprises a conical spindle gradually increasing in diameter toward its rear end and carrying a plurality of forwardly tapering vanes which are spiralled rearwardly around the spindle from the front end to an intermediate portion of the spindle and are then directedirearwardly in the axial direction of the spindle to provide integral paddle extensions encircled or partly encircled by a snow deflecting hood or housing. When the machine is moved forwardly the vanes cut their way into the mass of snow which is forced reawardly along the spiral portions of the vanes to the paddle extensions which serve to throw the snow at high velocity to an out-of-the-way location at one side of the path travelled by the machine.

The above mentioned screw conveyer is very efiicient in operation but the fabrication and assembly of the component parts requires considerable time and labor and is fairly expensive. Another objection to the aforesaid screw conveyer is that it operates only in a horizontal position at a fixed distance above the ground level and therefore functions with maximum efficiency only when the level of the snow mass through which it is advanced is not appreciably below the smaller front end of the conical spindle on which the spiralled vanes are mounted.

With the foregoing in mind, one object of the present invention is to provide an improved snow clearing machine of the type mentioned in which the aforesaid screw conveyer is replaced by an equally eflicient but simpler and less expensive screw conveyer in which'the vanes and paddles are formed separately and are mounted on a portion of a supporting spindle which is of substantially uniform diameter.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved snow clearing machine of the type described in which the supporting spindle is adjustably mounted for swinging movement about a horizontal axis so. that said spindle and the screw conveyer carried thereby may be shifted from a horizontal tovariousinclinedpositions 7 Claims. (CI. 3753) ing part of the conveyer shown in Fig. 6.

'bechanged to suit the lation by 2 without disrupting the drive connection between the spindle and the prime mover. This enables the operating position of the screw conveyer to depth of snow through which the machine is moving and to thereby ensure efficient operation of the conveyer at all times.

Other objects, characteristic features and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings, in which- .Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a complete machine embodyingv my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the assembly shown in Fig, l. s Fig.

is a side elevation of the frame of the .machine with the conveyer assembly mounted thereon,

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of an adjustable yoke in which the spindle carrying the rotating parts of the conveyer assembly is mounted.

Fig. '7 is a side elevational view of one of the .paddles forming part of the conveyer shown in Fig. 6. t

Fig. .8 isa side view of one of the vanes form- Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the vanes shown in Fig. 8.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 5 designates a portable carriage equipped with ground wheels 6 and handle member 1. This carriage supports a screw conveyer assembly l0, an internal combustion engine II, a fuel tank l2 and the component parts of a drive mechanism (hereinafter described) through which 7 the ground wheels and the power driven parts of the screw conveyer assembly are driven from the engine.

consists essentially of two vertically disposed side plates I4 secured together in spaced parallel resuitable transversely extending, connecting and bracing members l5 shown in Figure 3. These side plates l4 present. relatively wide forward portions [6 and relatively narrow rearward portions H.

The handle member 1 and cured to the rear portion of the engine II are secarriage which i is constituted by the narrow portion ll of the 55.

frame plates l4.

The ground wheel 6 are mounted on an axle l9 journalled in bearing bushings fitted in suitable openings provided in the wide portions I6 of the frame plates l4. These bushings are provided with attaching flanges 2| secured to plates [4 by bolts 22 or other fastening means,

A worm wheel 24 is fixed to axle l9 and is driven by a worm 25 fixed to a vertical shaft 26 journalled in suitable bearings 21 carried by certain of the transverse members I5 connecting the frame plates M. A worm wheel 28 fixed to shaft 26 is driven by a worm 29 fixed to a horizontal shaft 30 which is also journalled in suitable bearings 3! carried by the frame plates [-4. A projecting end of shaft 30 carries a pulley or sprocket 33 which is driven by abelt or chain 34 from a pulley or sprocket 35 mounted on one end of the engine shaft 36. The opposite end of engine shaft 36 is equipped with a conventional starting pulley 31.

The worm .29 of shaft '30 also drives a worm wheel 38 fixed -to oneend of 'a hollow quill shaft 39 which extends through and is rotatably carried by a tubular bearing housing 40 forming part of a yoke 4! which is mounted to swing about a pivotal axis afforded by the shaft'3fi. In this connection it will be noted that yoke 4| includes laterally spaced supporting arms 42 inclining downwardly from the rear end of the tubular bearing housing ll] and provided with hearing openings 43 in which inward extensions 31a of bearing 35 are rotatably'fitted. It will thus be seen that quill 39 and 'its bearing housing 40 are mounted to swing in a circular path about the pivotal axis afiorded by shaft 35. Quill '39 is rotatably mounted in bearing housing 40 by means of anti-friction bearings 45 which serve, in conjunction with the retaining rings 45, to hold said quill against longitudinal movement relative to said bearing housing.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the quill 39 and its bearing housing 4!] may be swung from the horizontal position shown in Fig. 1.to an inclined position extending downwardly and forwardly fro-m'the'shaft 30. In order'to permit the quill 39 and its "bearing housing 40 to be secured in adjusted position the forward ends of the wider portions l e of the frame plates I4 are provided with a series of openings 49 arranged in an arc concentric'with the axis of shaft 351 and adapted to receive therethrough set. screws '50 or other fastening members which are adapted for retaining engagement with the yoke 45.

The quill 39 supports anddrives a spindle 52 forming partof the screw conveyer assembly I'll. A rearwardly extending portion of spindle'52 is passed through the quill shaft '39 and is keyed'to therear end of the quill sha'ft' by means of a driving washer 53 and a clamping nut 54. Washer 53 is provided with a forwardly extending driving projection 55which isheld in a notch 55 of the quill as by clamping nut 54. Washer 53 is also provided with a key projection 58 which is .fitted in a key slot 59 .provide'd'in spindle '52. Spindle 52 is also keyed to the forward end of the quill shaft 39 by means comprising a shoulder '60- formed on the spindle'and provided with a'driving projectionfii fitted in a notch62 provided in the forward end of the quill shaft'i39.

A portion of spindle '52 which extends forwardly beyond the front end of quill shaft 39 has mounted thereon a'oonical disc"63,iaplurality of radially extending paddles fid located forwardly of th disc 53 and a plurality o'fvanes '65 located forwardly of the paddles 64. The disc 63 is arranged on spindle 52 with its conical side 63a facing forwardly. The paddles 64 are arranged with their rear edges welded or otherwise secured to the conical side 63a of disc 63 and with their inner end edges welded or otherwise secured to spindle 52. Each addle B4 is shaped so that, in its applied position, its forward and rearward radial edges lie substantially parallel with the conical surfac portion of the disc 53 to which it is attached.

Each of the vanes '65 is made of gradually decreasing width toward its outer end and is pro vided at its inner end with a semi-elliptical spindle-receiving recess 66 in which the spindle 52 is fitted insecuring these parts together. The vane '55 are mounted on the spindle 52 so that they conjointly provide a screw conveyer by means of which the snow into which the vanes are advanced is conveyed rearwardly to the paddles 64 which serve to throw the snow at high velocity to one side .of the path travelled by the machine. In lthi'S connection it'will be noted that the width of .each vane .615 extends diagonally across the central axis of the spindle 52 and that each vane 65 is inclined sothat its upper end lies rearwardly of its lower end. The leading radial edge of each vane d5 is preferably serrated to provide cutting teeth -68 which enables the vane to readily out its way into a packed mass of snow or other material. The upper end ;of each vane 65 is provided with an integral rearwardly directed extension "is which'has its rear end welded or otherwise secured to the conical surface of disc 63. These extensions it serve a dual purpose. They brace and support the upper ends of the vanes E5 and they also :serve as peripheral cutters. finitable bracing members H are also connected between the outer end of each vane 65 and one of ithe :pa'ddles :64.

From the foregoing it will be apparent, that 'in whet-operation of the machine described herein, the ground wheels :and the spindle driving quill '39 'of:thec.onveyer assembly :are "driven from the engine rll'l through the agency of the flexible driving element -34 and shafts 3i! and 26. It will also be apparent that, as the machine is moved forwardly, the cutting -Vanes 6501 the conveyer assem'blywill ,cut'into a mass 'of snow or other material and :move said material rearwardly to the ipad'dlesfill which serve to throw the material ;to ion'e'side of :thepath travelled by the machine. The paddles-.55 rotate within asemi-circular deflecting :or housing wall 72 which 'is mounted on the yoked! and zmay'be'adjusted about said yoke to determinetthedirection in which the-snow is propelled by the :paddles. "If the snow through which the conveyer :asse-mblyis advanced is-deep this assem-hiy will normally be arranged with spindle 52 in the ,horizontal position shown in :Fig. 2. :ff'the'snow-is-not deep'enough to'permit ithe conveyer :assembly :to operate with satisfactory 'efficiency in the horizontal position'such assembly may be swung "downwardly about the :pivotal axis 'afiordedby shaft 39 and then fastened 'by :the :set-screws-Ell 'in a suitable downwardly land forwardly inclined position.

'When desired tthexrotating -:parts of the conveyer assembly may :bendetached as aun-it from ':the yoke 4| .by :removing the clamping nut 54 of .spindle 52 and withdrawingthe latter from 'theldriving "quill 3.9. 'Th'mrmethod of mounting the rotating parts offthe conveyer assembly also Ihas th'eradvantage that, :on removal'of this assembly, the :driving spindle 'Of1Ql7h8I'"tOO1S may be inserted .illftlle .quill:3,9 and secured thereto; in the wardly of said disc,

same manner as previously described in connection with spindle 52.

Having thus described what I now conceive to be the preferred embodiment of my invention it will be understood that Various modifications may be resorted to within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine of the character described comprising a portable frame, a transversely extending shaft rotatably journalled in said frame, means for driving said shaft, an adjustable bearing housing extending in a direction at right angles to said shaft and mounted for swinging movement about a center coinciding with the central longitudinal axis of said shaft, a spindle extending through said housing and rotatably carried thereby, means for driving said spindle from said shaft in all adjusted positions to which the housing is swung about said shaft, a conical disc carried by a'portion of the spindle projecting from the end of the housing remote from said shaft, a plurality of radial paddles secured to said spindle and said disc and a plurality of vanes arranged around said spindle to conjointly provide a screw conveyor for conveying material along said spindle in the direction of said paddles, said vanes being secured to said spindle and to said disc and means for retaining said housing in any of the various positions'to which it is swingable about said shaft.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1, in which the means for driving said spindle from said shaft comprises a hollow quill shaft rotatably mounted in said housing and receiving the spindle therethrough and a worm wheel carried by said spindle and meshing with a worm carried by said shaft.

3. A machine of the character described comprising a portable frame, a transversely extending shaft rotatably journalled in said frame, means for driving said shaft, a worm fixed to said shaft, a bearing housing extending at right angles to said shaft and mounted to swing in a circular path about a center coinciding with the central longitudinal axis of said shaft, a hollow quill shaft extending through said bearing housing and rotatably mounted therein, onevend of said quill shaft projecting beyond the end of the housing nearest said shaft and carrying a worm wheel meshing with said worm, means for securing said bearing housing in different positions of adjustment to which it is swingable about the aforesaid central axis of the shaft, a spindle extending through said quill shaft and fixed to rtate therewith, a conical disc mounted on a portion of the spindle projecting forwardly from the end of the bearing housing remote from said shaft, said disc being arranged with its convex conical surface facing forwardly, a plurality of radial paddles arranged around said spindle foreach paddle having its inner edge secured to said spindle and its rearwardly located radial edge secured to the convex conical surface of said disc and a plurality of vanes arranged around said spindle forwardly of said paddles, each vane havingits inner end secured to said spindle so that the width of the vane extends diagonally across the central axis of the spindle, said vanes being inclined in the longitudinal direction of the spindle so that their outer ends lie rearwardly of their inner ends and connecting members extending between the outer ends of said vanes and said disc.

4. A machine of the character described comprising a portable frame, a transversely extending shaft rotatably journalled in said frame, means for driving said shaft, a worm fixed to said shaft, a bearing housing extending at right angles to said shaft and mounted to swing in a circular path about a center coinciding with the central longitudinal axis of said shaft, a hollow quill shaft extending through said bearing housing and rotatably mounted therein, one end of said quill shaft projecting beyond the end of the housing nearest said shaft and carrying a worm wheel meshing with said worm, means for securing said bearing housing in different positions of adjustment to which it is swingable about the aforesaid central axis of the shaft, a spindle extending through said quill shaft and fixed to rotate therewith, a conical disc mounted on a portion of the spindle projecting forwardly from the end of the bearing housing remote from said shaft, said disc being arranged with its convex conical surface facing forwardly, a plurality 'of radial paddles arranged around said spindle forwardly of said disc, each paddle having its inner edge secured to said spindle and its rearwardly located radial edge secured to the convex conical surface of said disc and a plurality of vanes arranged around said spindle forwardly of said paddles, each vane having its inner end secured to said spindle so that the width of the vane extends diagonally across the central axis of the spindle, said vanes being inclined in the longitudinal direction of the spindle so that their outer ends lie rearwardly of their inner ends, connecting members extendin between the outer ends of said vanes and said disc and a plurality of bracing members each connecting the outer end of one of said paddles to the outer end of an adjacent vane.

5. A machine of the character described comprising a portable frame, a transversely extending shaft rotatably journaled in said frame, a spindle arranged at right angles to said shaft so that a portion of the spindle projects forwardly from said frame, means for rotatably mounting said spindle, means for driving said spindle from said shaft, a conical disc arranged on the spindle forwardly of said frame with the convex conical surface of the disc facing forwardly, a plurality of radial paddles arranged around said spindle forwardly of said disc, each paddle having its inner end secured to the spindle and its trailing radial edge secured to the convex conical surface of the disc, a plurality of vanes arranged around said spindle forwardly of said paddles to conjointly provide a screw conveyer, each vane having its inner end secured to the spindle so that the width of the vane extends diagonally across the central axis of the spindle, said vanes being inclined in the longitudinal direction of the spindle so that the outer ends of the vanes lie rearwardly of the inner ends and are positioned opposite portions of the disc which lie midway between said paddles, and vane connecting and bracing members extending between the outer ends of the vanes and opposing portions of the disc.

6. A machine as set forth in claim 5 in which the forwardly disposed radially extending edge of each vane ls serrated to provide cutting teeth.

'7. A machine as set forth in claim 5 in which the paddles are formed so that the leading and trailing edges of each paddle are substantially parallel with that portion of the convex conical surface of the disc to which the paddle is secured.

ALFRED C. TUTTLE. 

